Although the CMS reports on readmission penalties could dishearten hospitals struggling to get their rates under control, one piece of news is encouraging: According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, 75% (or 4.4 million) of Medicare hospital readmissions may be preventable. How can hospitals do a better job preventing avoidable readmissions? Read our Six Strategies for Readmission Reduction Success to find out.

1. Six Strategies for
Readmission Reduction Success
Although the CMS reports on readmission penalties could dishearten hospitals
struggling to get their rates under control, one piece of news is encouraging: According
to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, 75% (or 4.4 million) of Medicare
hospital readmissions may be preventable.
How can hospitals do a better job preventing
avoidable readmissions?
While hospitals face different challenges unique to their organizations,
clinical protocols and patient populations, the following practices
generally are considered key elements for success.
1. Identify and target patients at the highest risk for readmissions,
particularly heart failure patients, the elderly, and patients with
complex medical and social needs.
2. Closely monitor and manage the in-hospital treatment
of these patients and alert the care team to act quickly
when “red flags” indicate the need for immediate interventions.
3. Use concurrent data to evaluate readmission reduction
strategies and programs and make necessary refinements
to increase their effectiveness.
4. Enhance coaching, education, and support for
patient self-management.
5. Improve core discharge planning and transition processes
out of the hospital, especially those related to medication
reconciliation and patient compliance.
6. Use readmissions data to gain insights into the connections
between readmissions, mortality and patient safety.